Vapor regulator



Feb. 23,1932. E. A. RUSSELL VAPOR REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.24, 1930 e S P a a 2% 5 n fi 0 5 A A. w 5 M m w Feb. 23, 19320 E. A.RUSSELL VAPOE REGULATOR Filed Nov 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 im gs.

Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE EDWARD A. RUSSELL, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VAPOR CAR HEATING GOM- PANY, INQ, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK VAPOR REGULATOR Applicationfiled November 24, 1930. Serial No. 487,870.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a vaporregulator for controlling the flow of vapor or steam to the radiators ofa railway car heating system.

5 Vapor regulators of this type, which are well known in the art,comprise a valve located in the steam supply line, and a thermostaticelement for controlling the valve, said thermostatic element beingsubject to the It temperatures of the fluids returned from theradiators. The vapor regulator is positioned beneath the car so as to beexposed to outside air currents, and the thermostatic element usuallysubstantially enclosed in a housing through which the returned steam,air and condensate passes before flowing or dripping out through anopening or openings in the lower end of the housing. This housing servesto enclose the thermostatic elementin a surrounding envelope of thereturned fluids so that it will promptly respend to the temperaturethereof, and also serves to protect the thermostatic element from theoutside air current, particularly 251 when the car is in motion.However, in vapor regulators, heretofore constructed, there has been atendency for outside air to flow or be drawn in through theoutletopening or openings in the bottom of the vapor 3b 1. aiator, thuscausing undesired temperature changes in the space directly surroundingthe thermostatic element and impairing the proper functioning thereof.

According to the present invention, the outlet passages in the closureat the lower end of the vapor regulator, are so arranged as to minimizethe exposure at the lower end of the thermostat chamber and hinder thein- M ward passage of air, and an inwardly and downwardly projectingdeflecting flange is provide l around the outlets to induce an outwardsuction through these outlet passages, particularly when the car is inmotion.

5 The general object of this invention is to provide certain new anduseful improvements in a vapor regulator, such as briefly referred tohereinabove, and disclosed more in detail in the specifications whichfollow.

50 .-.l.nother objec is to provide an improved form of closure for thelower end of a vapor regulator.

Another object is to provide improved means for preventing the inflow ofair through the outlet opening at the bottom of the vapor regulator.

Another object is to provide improved means for creating an outwardsuction from the thermostat chamber of the vapor regulator.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description ofone approved form of apparatusembodying the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is central vertical section through the complete vapor regulator.

2 is an end elevation of the vapor regulator, parts thereof being shownin central vertical section, taken substantially at right angles to thesection shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the closure member.

Fig. 4- is a horizontal section, taken sub stantially on the line 4- ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the closure member.

The main casting or supporting frame 1 comprises an upwardly extendingarm 2, in which the high and low pressure supply chambers are formed,and a horizontally projecting arm 3 from which the thermostat chamber issupported. In the arm 2 is formed a high pressure supply chamber 4having a pipe connection with the source of steam supply, and a lowpressure steam chamber 5, from which a conduit leads to the heatingsystem within the car. The port 6 between the chambers 4 and 5 has avalve seat 7 at its outlet end, with which cooperates a movable valvemember 8 carried by valve stem 9 which projects through a packing 10 inone end of low pressure chamber 5. A strainer 11 within the highpressure chamber lis held in place by a closure plug 4.

A. bell-crank lever 12 pivoted at 13 on a fixed bracket l l formed onframe 1 has a pin and slot connection at 15 with one end of the valvestem 9, and its other arm is pivotally connected at 16 with the upperend of an operating rod 17, which projects down through opening 18 intothe chamber 19 formed in horizontal arm 3 of the main frame 1. Aremovable guard or casing 20 serves to shield and protect the levermechanism connecting operating rod 17 with the valve stem 9.

A return pipe from the radiators within the car is connected into aninlet port 21 leading into chamber 19, a similar alternative inlet portin the opposite side of the arm 3 being closed by a plug 22. An outertube 23 and an inner tube 24 are respectively secured at their upperends to and supported from the arm 3. The condensate flowing in from theheating system through port 21 drains down through the annular space 25formed between the inner and outer tubes 24 and 23, as indicated by thearrow as in Fig. 2. The greater. portion of the returned steam or hotgases flow down through the inner tube 24, as indicated by the arrow 6.

The lower ends of the tubes 23 and 24 are connected with a lowerbell-shaped casting 26. The inner tube 24 leadsinto a thermostathousingchamber 27 which is entirely closed, except for the open lower end andfor the connection in the upper end with tube 24. The annular space 25between the tubes 23 and 24 connects with a pair of drain passages 28formed outside of the thermostat chamber 27. A removable closure member,indicated as a whole at 273 is removably secured to the lower end of thehousing 26 so as to substantially close the thermostat chamber 27 exceptfor a restricted outlet passage for the fluids returned to said chamberfrom the heating system. An adjusting screw 29 mounted in said closuremember carries a head or rest 29 at its upper end, upon which issupported the thermostatic disc 30. A head 31 formed at the lower end ofoperating rod 17 contacts with the upper side of the thermostatic disc30. A plurality of rounded projections 32 formed on the respective sidesof rod or stem 17 serve to loosely guide this rod for its verticalmovements through inner tube 24. The rod 17 is so formed as to offer aslittle resistance as possible to the flow of fluids through the tube 24into the chamber 27.

All of the above noted structure is substantially well known in the art,except for the specific form of the closure 27 and parts carriedthereby, as will be hereinafter de scribed. The vapor regulator operatesin a well known manner. WVhen the thermostatic disc is in its collapsedcondition (as shown in the drawings), the valve 8 will be opened andsteam will flow from supply chamber 4 into the low pressure chamber 5and thence to the radiators of the heating system. When the system hasbecome filled with steam or vapor, the excess hot gases will flowthrough the return pipe from the system into the chamber 19, thence downthrough the inner tube 24 into housing 27 and will raise the temperatureof the thermostatic disc 30 and the thermostatic fluid containedtherein, so that this disc will expand, lifting the operating rod 17,and moving bell-crank 12 and valve stem 9, thus closing the valve 8against its seat 7 so as to cut off the further flow of steam or vaporto the radiators. Condensate from the radiators will drain down throughthe annular space 25 and passages 28.

Any condensate forming in the housing 27' will flow out through theoutlet passages, hereinafter described. As steam or vapor ceases to flowinto the chamber 27 and the temperature of the gases in this chamber become lowered, the disc 30 will contract and the valve 8 will again open,by virtue of the steam pressure from supply chamber 4, and a furthersupply of steam will flow to the radiators.

It will be noted that this vapor regulator is supported beneath the car,so that the gases and condensate may escape through the lower end of theregulator. It is desirable that the thermostatic disc 30 be completelyhoused and protected as far as possible from the outer air currents. Invapor regulators, as heretofore constructed, there is also a tendencyfor air to flow into the thermostat chamber through the outlet passagesnecessarily provided in the lower end thereof, thus interfering with theproper functioning of this disc in direct response to the changingtemperatures of the fluids returned from the radiating system. Theparticular object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmeans for more completely enclosing the thermostat, and preventing theflow of outer air into the thermostat chamber. 'The closure member 27*is formed with a flat horizontally extending shoulder 33 adapted to bearagainst the lower edges of the skirt portion 34 of the thermostathousing, and is also formed with an annular upwardly extending flangeportion 35 adapted to fit within the lower portion of the housing. Ahinge lug 36 extending from one side of the closure member is pivotedbetween a pair of hinge ears 37 on the housing 26, by means of hinge pin37*. At the opposite side of the closure a locking bolt 38 is pivoted onpin 39 between a pair of cars 40 formed in lug 41 on the closure. On thefree threaded end 42 of bolt 38 is mounted a thumb nut 43 adapted toclamp a loose washer or rider 44 above a pair of lugs or cars 45 formedon the housing 26.

A rather small centrally positioned outlet passage 46 formed in theclosure member 27 leads down into a shallow interior chamber 47. Belowthe chamber 47 a deflecting flange 48 curves downwardly and inwardly.WVithin the flange 48 is formed a supporting spider comprising .acentral disc 49 connected by radially extending legs 50 with theinterior of flange 48 so as to provide a plurality of downwardly andinwardly curving outlet passages 51, leading from shallow chamber 4-7 tothe outer air. An exteriorly and interiorly threaded bushing or plug 52is threaded into a central opening provided in disc 49 and is locked inplace by pin 53. The supporting and adjusting screw 29 for thetlmrinostatic disc 30 is mounted in bushing 52 and secured in adjustedposition by means oi loch nut 54. Screw 29 has a head or nut 55 formedon its lower end, by means of which the screw can be adjustedvertically. A. plurality of lugs 01' shoulders 56 are formed within theshallow chamber enclosed by vertical flange 35 in order to limit thedownward nuivement of the thermostatic disc 80. A plurality of hooks 57project upwardly from the flange of closure 27 to loosely engage overthe upper side of thermostatic disc or diaphragm 30.

It will be noted that when the vapor regulator assembled in operativeposition, as shown in the drawings, the thermostat mem ber 30 will beclamped between the head or rest 29 at the u f J61 end of adjustingscrew 29 and the similar head 31 formed on the lower end of operatingrod 17. The thermostatic inen'iber will not ordinarily engage witheither the lugs 56 or the hooks 57, but will be freely suspendedtherebetween. In ca e it should become necessary to inspect the pars orto replace the thermostatic member, the 0 .sure 27 may be swung downabout its pivot 37 by merely loosening the thumb nut 43 and swinginglocking bolt 38 from be tween toe lugs 45. When the closure is swundownwardly away from the operating rod 17, the thermostatic disc 30 willbe held in place ictween the hooks 57 and lugs 56, but may be freelywithdrawn or lifted out at the sine toward the hinge lug 36, as will beapparent from an inspection of the drawings.

The gases and such condensate as forms in chamber 27, can flow outthrough outlet passage 46, shallow chamber 47, and outlet passages 51.,It will be noted that the thermostatic member is entirely enclosedwithin chamber 27 except for these outlet passages which are circuitousand not adapted to encourage the inflow of outer air to the chamber 27.Furthermore, the deflecting flange 48, which extends inwardly anddownwardly and has an outer concaved surface, will deflect thesurrounding air currents downward ly, particularly when the car is inmotion, so as to create a partial vacuum beneath the outlets, thuscausing a suction from the cham ber 27. It is not desirable to have astrong suction or rapid withdrawal of fluids from chamber 27 and thedeflecting flange 48 is not designed to produce a strong suction, butjust sutflcient suction to overcome any tendency UTE the outer currentsto flow into the housing and thus disturb the proper temperatureconditions existing therein. Itis or vapor in these gases, so as tocause the disc 30 to expand and close the valve 8, this steam willeventually condense to form a liquid,

which will drain out through the outlet assages inclosure 27, ashereinabove descri ed.

I claim:

1. In a vapor regulator for railway car steam heating systems, a closedhousing supported outside the car, a thermostatic member mounted withinthe housing and protected thereby, means for delivering fluids from theheating system into the housing, a fluid outlet in the lower end of thehousing, and an annular flange projecting downwardly and inwardly aroundthe outlet to induce an outward suction through the outlet.

2. In a vapor regulator for railway car steam heating systems, a closedhousing supported outside the car, a thermostatic member mounted withinthe housing and protected thereby, means for delivering fluids from theheating system into the housing, a fluid outlet in the lower end of thehousing, and an annular outwardly concaved flange projecting downwardlyabout the outlet to inpluce an outward suction through the out- 3. In avapor regulator for railway car steam heating systems, a closed housingsupported outside the car, a thermostatic mem ber mounted within thehousing and protected thereby, means for delivering fluids from theheating system into the housing, a

closure for the lower end of the housing, supporting means mountedcentrally in the closure for adjustably supporting the thermostaticmember, a plurality of downwardly directed outlet passages extendingthrough the closure and spaced around the supporting means, and an airdeflector projecting downwardly from the closure for inducing an outwardsuction through the outlets.

4. In a vapor regulator for railway car steam heating systems, a closedhousing supported outside the car, a thermostatic member mounted withinthe housing and protected thereby, means for delivering fluids from theheating system into the housing, a closure for the lower end of thehousing, supporting means mounted centrally in the closure foradjustably supporting the thermostatic memher, a plurality of downwardlydirected outlet passages extending through the closure and spaced aroundthe supporting means, and an annular flange formed on the closure andprojecting downwardly and inwardly around the outlets for inducing anoutward suction through the outlets.

5. In a vapor regulator for railway car steam heating systems, a closedhousing sup ported outside the car, a thermostatic member mounted withinthe housing and protected thereby, means for delivering fluids from theheating system into the housing, a closure for the lower end of thehousing, supporting means mounted centrally in the closure foradjustably supporting the thermostatic member, a plurality or"downwardly directed outlet passages extending through the closure andspaced around the supporting means, and an annular outwardly concavedflange projecting downwardly around the outlets for inducing an outwardsuction sage, and means at the upper end of the screw forsupporting thethermostatic member.

7. In a vapor regulator for railway car steam heating systems, a closedhousing supported outside the car, a thermostatic member mounted withinthe housing and protected thereby, means for delivering fluids from theheating system into the housing, a closure for the lower end of thehousing, there being a central outlet passage in the closure, adownwardly and inwardly projecting flange extending from the closurearound the outlet passage, a spider formed within the flange, anadjusting screw mounted in the spider and projecting centrally upwardthrough the passage, and means at the upper end of the screw forsupporting the thermostatic member, the outer surface of the flangebeing concaved to deflect air downwardly and thus create an outwardsuction through the outlet passage.

8. A vapor regulator for railway car heating systems comprising asupporting housing, said housing formed with a high pressure inletchamber, a low pressure out let chamber, and a steam passage between thechambers, a valve for opening or closing the passage, a thermostaticmember, operating connections between the thermostatic member and thevalve, the housing being formed with a vertically disposed closedchamber in which the thermostatic member is supportedand protected, aninlet to-the upper end of this last mentioned chamber for fluidsreturned from the heating system, a closure for the lower end of thischamber, a fluid outlet therein, and an annular deflecting flangeextending downwardly and inwardly around the outlet.

9. A vapor regulator for railway car heating systems comprising asupporting housing, said housing formed with a high pressure inletchamber, a low pressure outlet chamber, and a steam passage between thechambers, a valve for opening or closing the passage, a thermostaticmember, operating connections between the thermostatic mem ber and thevalve, the housing being formed with a vertically disposed closedchamber in which the thermostatic member is supported and protected, aninlet to the upper end of this last mentioned chamber for fluidsreturned from the heating system, a closure for the lower end of thischamber, a fluid outlet therein, and an outwardly concaved flangeprojecting downwardly around the outlet.

10. A vapor regulator for railway car heating systems comprising asupporting housing, said housing formed with a high pressure inletchamber, a low pressure outlet chamber, and a steam passage between thechambers, a valve for opening or closing the passage, a thermostaticmember, operating connections between the thermostatic member and thevalve, the housing being formed with a vertically disposed closedchamber in which the thermostatic member is supported and protected, aninlet to the upper end of this last mentioned chamber for fluidsreturned from the heating system, a closure for the lower end of thischamber, there being a central outlet passage inthe closure, a downwardly and inwardly projecting deflecting flange extending from theclosure around the outlet, a spider formed within the flange with acentral body portion beneath the outlet and a series of passages leadingfrom the outlet around the central body, an adjusting screw mounted inthe spider and projecting centrally upward through the outlet openingand means at the upper end of the screw for supporting the thermostaticmember.

11. A. vapor regulator for railway car heating systems comprising asupporting housing, said housing formed with a high pressure inletchamber, a low pressure outlet chamber, and a steam passage between thechambers, a valve for opening or closing the passage, a thermostaticmember, operating connections between the thermostatic member and thevalve, the housing being formed with a vertically disposed closedchamber in which the thermostatic member is supported and protected, aninlet to the upper end of this last mentioned chamber for fluidsreturned from the heating system, a closure for the lower end of thischamber, there being a central outlet passage in the closure, adownwardly and inwardly projecting deflecting flange extending from theclosure around the outlet, a spider formed within the flange with acentral body portion beneath the outlet and a series of passages leadingfrom the outlet around the central body, an adjusting screw mounted inthe spider and projecting centrally upward through the outlet openingand means at the upper end of the screw for supporting the thermostaticmember, the outer surface of the flange being concaved to deflect airdownwardly and create an outward suction through the outlet passage.

12. A vapor regulator for railway car heating systems comprising asupporting housing, said housing being formed with a high pressure inletchamber, a low pressure outlet chamber, and a steam passage between thechambers, a valve for opening or closing the passage, a thermostaticmember, operating connections etween the thermostatic member and theValve, the housing being formed with a vertically disposed bell-shapedhousing in which the thermostatic member is enclosed, said housinghaving an inlet in its upper end for the fluids returned from theheating system, a closure member reinovably secured to the lower end ofthe housing, said closure having a central outlet passage, a downwardlyand inwardly projecting deflecting flange extending from the closurearound the outlet, a spider formed within the deflecting flange, anadjusting screw mounted centrally Within the spider and projecting upthrough the outlet passage, means at the upper end of the screw forsupporting the thermostatic member, and means on the closure and looselyengaging about the thermostatic member to support the member when theclosure is removed from its normal engagement with the bottom of thethermostat housing.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL.

